The Hobbit or There and Back Again A Study Guide

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Bilbo Baggins A well to do hobbit Son of Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took. Quiet, respectable and predictable. Doesn’t like unexpected things? Likes or dislikes Gandalf? Is allowed to go on an adventure. Notice his response. Has a mark put on the door by Gandalf Gets visitors (next slide) 5

The Dwarfs (in order of appearance) Dwalin Balin Kili Fili Dori Nori Ori Oin Gloin Bifur Bofur Bombur Thorin Oakenshield (son of Thrain, son of Thror, king under the mountain) and Gandalf (a wizard, not a dwarf) 6

Ch. 1: An Unexpected Party Bilbo and Gandalf The appearance of the dwarves The dwarves’ song and the effect it has on Bilbo Bilbo’s shriek and the effect it has on the dwarves The map and the secret door The silver key Gandalf: No warrior so a burglar Thorin’s story of what happened.

The Elements A traditional fairytale A Bildungsroman Who’s the hero? Who’s the villain? What’s the treasure? What is the obstacle the hero has to take? The reluctant hero Bilbo Smaug, the dragon Smaug’s gold Smaug and... 8

Ch.2: Roast Mutton The journey starts Gandalf disappears The trolls (Bert, Tom, William (Bill) Huggins) Bilbo sent in Dwarves get caught Trolls argue Gandalf saves them Trolls’ cave Bilbo produces the key Swords with runes in the trolls’ cave 9

Ch.3: A Short Rest Go to Elrond in Rivendell He is of elven and human descent Can read runes and tells them about the two swords. –Glamdring and Orcrist. –Note these are weapons with names Reads the map and tells them about moon-letters. –“Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks,... and the setting sun with the last light of Durin’s Day will shine upon the key- hole.” 10

Ch. 4: Over Hill and Under Hill A journey over or through the Misty Mountains Difficult and dangerous Get into a cave Goblins attack them in the night but Gandalf gets away. Meet the Great Goblin who doesn’t trust Thorin’s folk. They are angry at the swords. Gandalf kills the Great Goblin. Notice his sword. Gandalf gets them away but Bilbo falls and is knocked unconscious. 11

Ch. 5: Riddles in the Dark One of the most important chapters in the book where Bilbo meets Gollum. Bilbo wakes up and is lost in the dark. Finds ring and then discovers that his sword is an elvish blade which shines when orcs are near. Steps into a lake. In the middle of the lake is Gollum watching Bilbo. “Gollum”, “my precious” Is wary of the sword and Bilbo. Bilbo is wary of Gollum Bilbo shows his luck: fish and time, and the last riddle 12

Ch. 5: Riddles in the Dark, cont. The riddle game If Gollum wins – if Bilbo wins The ring Bilbo’s pity Bilbo’s escape (stuck in the door) 13

Ch. 6: Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire Bilbo finds the dwarves. He’s now trusted. Tells about his escape. What does he leave out and who suspects that he left something out? Wolves ( wild wargs) – company in the trees Wolves to meet goblins Goblins set fire to trees Saved by the great eagles 14

Ch. 7: Queer Lodgings Bidden farewell by eagles The battle of the five armies foreshadowed. Beorn: skin-changer, sometimes a huge black bear and sometimes a great strong man with huge arms and a great beard. Appear two and two Beorn scouts the area: goblins and wargs have made an attack party. Tells to take the northern road Warns them to stay on the path (Little Red Riding Hood?) 15

Ch. 8: Flies and Spiders Enter Mirkwood Bombur falls into the stream The company leaves the path The lights are elves who vanish Happens three times The last time they lose each other Bilbo is caught by a spider and kills it Names his sword Sting (the third sword with a name) Bilbo’s rite of passage 16

Ch. 8: Flies and Spiders, cont. With the use of the ring he then saves the dwarves. They realise Thorin is missing. Thorin is a captive of the elves. Was taken to their king but won’t say anything. Is thrown in the dungeon. 17

Ch. 9: Barrels Out of Bond The dwarves are caught by the wood elves. Bilbo has the ring on and is undetected. He follows them into the dungeon. He is locked inside the halls. Steals food and delivers messages between the dwarves. Learns about barrels and the trapdoor. Plans an escape. He gets the dwarves into the barrels and they are transported down the river by the elves. Bilbo alone is not in a barrel. 18

Ch. 10: A Warm Welcome The barrels flow down the river to Lake Town (Esgaroth). Lake Town is a human city which stands on the river. Men drag the barrels to shore and while they are away Bilbo helps them out. Thorin and company enter the town hall and Thorin announces that he is there to reclaim his inheritance. A few elves are there. They want them back. The elves are afraid, why? They stay a fortnight (2 weeks) Are treated like kings. Notice the response of the master of Lake Town and the elvenking. 19

Ch. 11: On the Doorstep The company reaches the Lonely Mountain. Everything around it has been burned. Bilbo, Balin, Fili and Kili scout the south side. Notice the description of the season. Remember Elrond and Durin’s Day. Here Bilbo has most spirit left. Bilbo ponders over the map and reads the runes. Gets the dwarves to search for the door. They find it but it is only a smooth stone wall. Everybody gets depressed. 20

Ch. 11: On the Doorstep, cont. Bilbo hears the dwarves talking about sending him in through the front door. Talk of season. Bilbo remembers the riddle on the door. They find the door. 21

Ch. 12: Inside Information Thorin has Bilbo go first. He is the burglar. Smaug and the treasure. Bilbo steals a cup. Smaug wakes up. The attack of Smaug. The debate. Notice how Bilbo addresses Smaug. Bilbo talks in riddles which pleases the dragon. Smaug’s spell or truth? 22

Ch. 12: Inside Information, cont. ‘Every worm has a weak spot.’ Bilbo’s telling of Smaug. Notice the thrush. Thorin and the Arkenstone. Smaug’s search for revenge. 23

Ch. 13: Not at home Thorin complains about being locked up. Bilbo and the dwarves go down. Thorin sends Bilbo first. Bilbo finds the Arkenstone and decides to keep it as payment. The dwarves come in and see the gold and feel better. Thorin looks for the Arkenstone. Thorin gives Bilbo a mithril coat of mail. Thorin takes them around the place. They come to the door. They go to the old look-out post. 24

Ch. 14: Fire and Water Smaug flies to village People don’t realise at first it is the dragon. They prepare to fight him. He burns and smashes the houses. Bard, leader of the archers and a man of Dale. Thrush Black arrow. Death of Smaug. The master defends his actions. Bard sends for aid to the elves. The elves turn from the road to the mountain to Esgaroth Beorn and the goblins hear the news of Smaug’s death. Crows start gathering. 25

Ch. 15: The Gathering of the Clouds The thrush returns to the mountain. Friendship between Thror and ravens. (Thror’s time and Thorin’s) With the help of Roäc, a raven, tells them about Smaug. Roäc tells them about the men and elves coming to the mountain. Roäc’s advice and Thorin’s response Thorin will not share his inheritance. Note the importance of race and family in the story. The dwarves build a wall. Notice Bilbo’s feelings about what is happening. Bard tells them of his killing and the destruction of lake-town and asks for generosity. Thorin claims the dwarves’ ownership. Mountain claimed besieged. 26

Ch. 16: A Thief in the Night Thorin searches for the Arkenstone. Roäc warns Thorin. Bilbo takes Bombur’s place on the watch. Slips on his ring, climbs down and goes to the “enemy.” Talks to Bard and the elvenking. Offers the Arkenstone for them to bargain with. Gandalf is there and praises Bilbo. 27

Ch. 17: The Clouds Burst Bard and the elvenking come to talk to Thorin. They offer the Arkenstone for what is theirs. Thorin is furious. Gandalf shows himself. Bilbo gives his reason for taking the Arkenstone. Notice the dwarves feelings when Bilbo leaves their camp. Dain comes with his army. He’s stopped by Bard and the Elvenking. The Elvenking does not want to fight. The dwarves intend to strike. 28

Ch. 17: The Clouds Burst, cont. The goblins and the wargs come. There is war: the battle of the five armies. –The good guys: Elves, men and dwarves –The bad guys: goblins and wargs. Bilbo puts on the ring and stays at the last stand. And then the eagles come And then Bilbo is knocked unconscious The good guys are winning Then they are losing Then Thorin comes in Then the good guys are winning Then the good guys are losing 29

Ch. 18: The Return Journey Bilbo wakes up and sees grim victory. Bilbo is invisible. Thorin is dying. Thorin asks forgiveness and says farewell. The story of the battle: –The eagles came –the good guys were losing again. –Beorn came and the good guys won. Thorin’s burial. The sharing of the treasure. 30

Ch. 18: The Return Journey, cont. Bilbo, Gandalf, Beorn and the elves leave. Mirkwood: an honest thief The northern border of the forest. Christmas at Beorn’s place. On to Hobbiton. 31

Ch. 19: The Last Stage Elrond’s place. Gandalf’s business. Rivendell to Bagend. The trolls’ gold. Bagend. An auction Retrieval of property Sword on the wall, coat of mail on a stand, ring hidden. 32

Ch. 19: The Last Stage, cont. Years later Gandalf and Balin come to visit. Balin tells of Bard, Dale and master of Lake Town: Notice Gandalf’s words at the end. 33

Characters of Special Importance Bilbo Baggins Thorin Oakenshield Gandalf Smaug Elrond Gollum Beorn The Elvenking Bard and you also have to be familiar with the names on the list you can find in your coursebook. 34

Important things in the story Thorin’s map The silver key The two swords: Glamdring and Orcrist Gollum’s ring Bilbo’s sword: Sting The Arkenstone 35

Literary Terms Bildungsroman Narrator (storyteller) Protagonist – Antagonist (hero – villain) 36

Literary Terms 2 (Languages) Motif symbolism References to other works Setup Backstory Genre 37